The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-07
LETTY.s DISCOVERY.

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London Spectator.
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LETTY'S DISCOVERY.
II was i've o'clock of bright July
afternoon whea Lefty Price came to
Willow farm.
..It's altogether an adventure" said
Lefty, waving her Japanese parasol
over her head. II came, ! saw, L
No; Pm not altogether certain rs yet
that have conquered; but I'm going to
conquerr' .....-O
Lefty was city young lady. From
the sounds of organs and wheels she
had come out to the country solitudes.
"I'm tired of my place at Shoelace
and Buttons" said she. "It's positive
ly ruinous to the complexion to stand
all day long behind counter; and
everyone needs little change. What's
the use of rich old aunt in the country
II one can't utilise her, I'd like to knowP
lnvitedp Oh, of course, i haven't been
invited. Aunt Willow never invites
anyone. She's misanthropic, and de-
tests young people particularly girls,
and more particularly pretty girls. So
decided to invite myself, and you will
see that shall take the fort without
show Of guns. Nobody ever yet resisted
me. Goodbye, dear Come over to
Willow Farm the day after tomorrow,
if you can get any of your aboriginal
relatives to bring you, and witness my
triumph. Is this Hackmatack Station,
guardp Oh, then. 1t is all right"
And Miss Price kissed her hand effu-
sively TO Miss Selma Richfield, her fell
low-saleslady, who CHANGED TO be travel
ing on the same road to station few
miles further on, to spend her ten days
vacation with distant cousins, and who
had thereby become the confidante of
the pretty Lefty.
For fair she certainly was, with pink
and-white cheeks like French doll,
yellow hair, banged in an infantiIe
fashion on the forehead, and white
teeth that shone like row of pearls
whenever she opened her coral-red lips.
Eyes. Lefty Price always was pretty"
Miss Richfield reluctantly admitted.
But if ever there was selfish 'heartless
little wretch, that wretch is Lefty Price.
She was always getting the other girls
to do her work, and compelling them to
bear her blame and endure her burdens.
She never has neither heart nor con-
science. And now she means to settle
herself down on this poor aunt of hers,
spend MI her money, and make her sup
port her in genteel idleness. Hateful
little thing! l hope she'll find the aunt
q match for her." .s -
And Miss Richfield began to gather her
bags and sls,.sRlrstssp -snd- parcels to-
gether as the train slowed up for East
Brackton.
Lefty Price walked along the lane,
singing as she went. She had left her
trunk with the station-master, Ito be
called for" and carried only her bag
and scarf and toy-like japanese parasoL
"Pm sure / shall like it here" re-
marked Lefty to herself, pinning a
cluster of wild red lilies into her belt
which she had Just gathered.
She liked vivid bright flowers; they
suited her style.
At that moment light quick figure
swung itself impetuously around the
bend Of the road and came hurrying
down the hill, apparently unconscious
Of her presence.
"a girl like myself" said Lefty, paus-
ing-'young, not especially pretty, and
crying. Now, why will girls be SO fool
ish as to spoil their eyes. and redden
their noses with-crying? 49,.
Young woman" she cried, in her
sweet unsympathetic voice. "what is
the matterP And can you tell me,
please, how far am from Willow
Farmp" INK
The girl stopped, dashed away her
tears, and looked in amazement at the
beautiful apparition thafs-sued to have
risen out OF the elm shadows and the
clustering b azel-bushes before her vision.
willow Farm!" she repeated. "You
are going to Willow Farmp"
Lefty nodded her fair sunshiny head.
"Yes," she SAID: "Miss Willow is my
mothers aunt ] am coming to live
with her"
Once more the eyes, not particularly
pretty, as Lefty had decided, but
bright honest gray, full of soul-lights
and tender earnestness, were lifted with
face Of the newcomer.
"Oh. don't go therer' cried Helen
Kaye. ..She is my aunt, too-my fathers
wife's sister. And I've tried so hard to
love her, but she won't let me. She
don't mean TO be hard. but she is-sh,
90 hard and cruell have been sent
away"
..0h," said Lefty. $50 she is capricious
and cruel-ehP"
81 didn't say that" cried Helen with
startled face. 81 dare say am to
blame, only"
"Yes, / quite comprehend" said
Lefty, STOPPING to pick goldcn-heart's
daisy, that grew close to her footstep.
"How far did you say 1t WASP Only a
few stepsp ''Well. I'm awfully glad of
that It's too warm for walking far"
And without further sympathy or
question, Lefty passed on.
.I'ye enough of my own affairs to at
tend to without troubling about other
peoples" thought Lefty, lifting her blue
eyes to the free-tops with heavenly
sweetness of aspect
Miss Willow was just sitting down to
her afternoon cup of tea when Lefty
crossed the threshold.
s.Oh. dear mer' she said. "rve just
got rid of one of them, and here comes
anotherr'
.Dear Aunt willowr' Lefty cried.
dramatically fiinging open her arms.
..Yes," said Miss Willow without
moving. "Sit down. Tell me what it
all means. Hope you don't expect to
stayp"
This was certainly rather discourage
ing; but Lefty smiled resolutely on. 1t
was not possible that a little dried-up
woman. with hooked bird-of-prey nose
and no visible teeth, could hold out
long against such pink-and-white fasci-
nations as hers.
She told her pathetic tale. inventing
stern employer. u jealous forewoman,
ltreacherous feliow-shopgirls, and
cruel mother, to help soften the heart of
her auditor.
II may stay. dear Aunt Willowp" she
murmured, clasping the pretty hands
that were dimpled In every joint like q
lbaby's.
"Why, s'pose you'll have to for the
present" unwillingly conceded the old
lady. .P'raps you can help around
| little and be useful. now that Nell Kaye
has gone. But any girl that stays here
has got to earn her living of that ]
give you fair warning. Step lively. do
| ypnr work thoroughly, and mind your
Town business these are my three gold
len rules. And mind you. don't 90
Iprying and peeping about That's
Iihs enc thing ! can't stand.
Lefty smllsd swssily, and determined